Review

For Bruce Beresford's new film chronicling
the life of Alma Mahler, Bride of the Wind,
composer Stephen Endelman had the enviable task of not only arranging the music
of Gustav and Alma Mahler into the musical fabric of the film, but also
offering his orchestral contribution to this period tale. The film chronicles
the turbulent story of the famous composer's wife, who was a composer in her
own right, until her husband requested she cut her composing career short.

The lengthy Deutsche Grammonphon album offers
around twenty-two minutes of Endelman's neo-Classical score, performed with
verve by The Czech Philharmonic under Frantisek Preisler. Aside from two source
cues by Janos Bihari, the remainder of the album is devoted to the music of the
Mahlers. Fortunately, the pieces drawn from Gustav's output are taken from the
Deutsche Grammonphon archives, performed by such luminaries as Boulez, Abbado
and the Vienna Philharmonic, and focusing on the 3rd, 5th, and 6th symphonies.
As always with the composer, the selections here are dramatic, occasionally
playful, and always compelling. Classical fans will more than likely have these
essential recordings already, yet film score fans would do well to investigate
these great works further.

Alma Mahler is represented by three pieces of
lieder, sung by Renee Fleming and accompanied by Jean Yves-Thibaudet. "Bei
Dir Ist Es Traut" is given a gorgeous reading, accompanied by gentle
strings. "In Meines Vaters Garten" is also tinged with sadness, yet
equally lovely, scored for piano duet.

Endelman's contribution is notable, and
stands alongside the Mahler's quite admirably. His opening titles bustle with
energy, and are firmly rooted in the classical mode, and most of the score
seems to include quotations from Gustav Mahler's works. Many of the other cues
("The Lovers", "Give Up Your Music", "I'm
Pregnant") rely heavily on the string section, with droll adagio's that
briefly recall the writing of Howard Shore. Even the minute long "The
Battle" cue plays through the action with a long string line. Not all is
doom and gloom however. Aside from the busy main title, "The Hot
Springs" contains a hopeful clarinet, flute, piano and violin theme which
is a bit more removed from the somber nature of the other cues. "She
Walks" contains a touch of lightness from a rising string figure, which
crescendo's into a hopeful horn and string theme. "Bride of the Wind"
brings back the sprightly main title in a dramatically brief reading.

This album for those looking for something
with a nice balance of underscore and music from one of the greatest composers
ever. The disc features notes by the director, lyrics for the Mahler lieder,
and full credits.